VOA, November 16, 2012

Roadside Bomb Kills 17 wedding guests in Afghanistan

The coalition says insurgents have caused more than 2,800 civilian deaths and injuries so far this year

A roadside bomb has ripped through a vehicle in western Afghanistan, killing 17 civilians who were part of a wedding celebration.

Afghan officials say Friday's blast occurred on a road in relatively peaceful Farah province. Most of the victims were women and children. At least 10 people were wounded in the attack.

Injured Afghan villagers lie on beds in a hospital ward in Farah Province after they were caught in an explosion of a roadside bomb, November 16, 2012. (Photo: AFP)

Authorities blamed Taliban militants.

NATO strongly condemned "this latest brutal attack against innocent civilians." A coalition spokesman said "the insurgents' claim to avoid killing civilians again rings hollow as they continue their ruthless IED (improvised explosive devices) campaign."

The coalition says insurgents have caused more than 2,800 civilian deaths and injuries so far this year, the majority caused by IEDs.

Separately, NATO said two of its service members were killed in a roadside bombing Friday in eastern Afghanistan.

Earlier this year, a United Nations report said improvised explosive devices used by insurgents are the top cause of deaths among Afghan women and children. The U.N. has demanded that insurgents immediately stop the deliberate killing of civilians.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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